20 Excellent Book-To-Movie Adaptations You Have To See

It's always exhilarating and unsettling for a book fan to learn that one of their favorite books is being adapted into a film. We're always intrigued, but given the track record of book-to-film adaptations, we're wary.

Because most novels are far longer than a film script, parts must be cut, and the tale must be cobbled together. Sometimes it's done exceptionally effectively, as in the Harry Potter series.

At other times, the plot loses all complexity and becomes completely static. When done effectively, though, it can result in some major cinematic magic.

Because 1.) we know how difficult it is, and 2.) we're always looking for something fantastic to see, we're going to commemorate the directors and performers who have collaborated to convert some incredible novels into equally incredible films over the years. Don't worry; we're avoiding movies like 50 Shades of Grey and the entire Twilight franchise since, despite the hype surrounding them, they're really not that good.

From films based on great literature to horror classics, trust us when we say that each of these is a must-see—even if you haven't read the book. Here are 20 of our favorite book-to-film adaptations.

Take a look:

1. 'The Silence of the Lambs'

Despite the fact that it bridges the horror and thriller genres, The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, is such a great film that we think everyone should see it at least once.

The film, which is based on Thomas Harris's novel of the same name, perfectly depicts the dread described in the book.

MGM

2. 'The Godfather'

The Godfather is a classic. It's shocking, thrilling, and full of unanticipated twists and turns. To be honest, this mafia film may even be better than Mario Puzo's eye-opening novel, which was first released in 1969.

Paramount Pictures

3. 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, released in 1975, is the film that, in our opinion, secured Jack Nicholson's permanent stardom. He nailed his character as a defiant inmate who becomes mentally ill. Ken Kesey's novel is a must-read, and we strongly advise reading it before watching the film.

Amazon

4. 'Fight Club'

This is a film that we will never, ever get tired of. The book is a short, well-written read, but it is the film that brings Tyler Durden and the Narrator to life.

It was released near the conclusion of the Wall Street era, when many people were becoming disillusioned with corporate America, making it eerily realistic. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, of course, deliver outstanding performances.

20th Century Fox

5. 'Room'

The film Room, starring Brie Larson and based on the 2010 novel of the same name, is heartbreaking to watch. This is largely due to the relationship between Brie and her young co-star, Jacob Tremblay, who was just 7 at the time the film was shot.

It's about a young child and his mother who have been held captive for the majority of his life, and it's both heartbreaking and moving.

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6. 'American Psycho'

We're all aware of Christian Bale's dedication to each and every one of his film performances, which is why he was so believable as a crazy serial killer in American Psycho in 2000. The novel is well worth reading, but Christian's performance in the film elevated the subject to a whole new level of unsettling.

Universal Studios

7. 'Sense & Sensibility'

Sense & Sensibility, released in 1995, is on the other extreme of the spectrum. It is one of the best movie adaptations of a Jane Austen novel ever created, directed by Ang Lee and starring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Kate Winslet.

The performances are fantastic, and the directors have done an excellent job of staying true to the era.

Columbia Pictures

8. 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a 2009 film, did an excellent job of bringing the novel to life. It was thrilling, intriguing, and scary at the same time.

While the film incorporates elements from later books in the series, it remains loyal to Stieg Larsson's vision. Just don't confuse it with David Fincher's 2011 film, which isn't even close to being as good.

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9. 'The Shining'

The Shining, based on Stephen King's novel, is without a doubt one of the best novel-to-film adaptations ever made.

Warner Bros.

10. 'Brokeback Mountain'

Brokeback Mountain, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, caused quite a stir when it originally came out because it featured a secret gay relationship between two cowboys, acted out by such high-profile actors.

But it wasn't only the shock factor; filmmaker Ang Lee did an outstanding job conveying the beauty of Anne Proulx's unexpected love story.

Focus Features

11. 'It'

Let's start with the fact that the 2017 film version of Stephen King's It was significantly superior to the original TV miniseries adaptation in terms of quality and content. The film captures the characters' emotions, making this purely fictional film feel real.

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12. 'Lolita'

Stanley Kubrick was a maestro of the book-to-film adaptation and a film genius. He simply had an uncanny ability to grasp the essence of a narrative.

Given the date and the fact that the picture was about pedophilia, he had to approach the 1962 version of Russian author Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita with great sensitivity. Nonetheless, he did so in an intriguing and provocative manner.

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13. 'Little Women'

Greta Gerwig's portrayal of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women in 2019 was outstanding. She gave it a personal touch by writing it as if Jo were the author, which adds a layer of relatability and modernizes the story without straying too far from the period in which it was written.

Wilson Webb/Columbia Pictures

14. 'The Color Purple'

Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Danny Glover delivered outstanding performances in this adaptation of Alice Walker's novel. The Color Purple was already an emotive and touching book, but watching the gut-wrenching events play out on screen, directed by Steven Spielberg, allowed people to connect even more.

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15. 'Forrest Gump'

Forrest Gump is a dramatic narrative of a differently-abled man growing up in a period when many people didn’t have the information or willingness to learn about individuals who are different. The movie was based on the book by Winston Groom.

Paramount Pictures

16. 'Doctor Zhivago'

When adapting Doctor Zhivago for film in 1965, David Lean stayed loyal to the original. He chose to focus on the more romantic aspects of Zhivago in an expertly made film that was a career highlight and a worthy tribute to Boris Pasternak's most popular novel.

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17. 'Hidden Figures'

Call us surprised if the 2016 film adaptation of the book Hidden Figures didn't make you feel enraged as a woman. Under the direction of Theodore Melfi, the superb cast, which included Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson, did an excellent job portraying NASA's Katherine Johnson's true story.

Hidden Figures/Facebook

18. 'Harry Potter'

Every time we settle in for another Harry Potter marathon, we're astounded by how well the film series captures all of the key elements from the novels, which are all, of course, exceedingly long and comprehensive. Even die-hard fans of the books don't feel like they're missing out when they watch the movies.

Warner Bros.

19. 'Crazy Rich Asians'

Crazy Rich Asians was a fantastically entertaining and intelligent film that advanced Asian representation in Hollywood by leaps and bounds. None of this would have been possible without Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name or director Jon M. Chu's meticulous attention to detail during the adaptation.

Warner Bros.

20. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

Audrey Hepburn became a Hollywood icon almost entirely due to this film. It was adapted by screenwriter George Axelrod and director Blake Edwards from a much harsher Truman Capote novella.

It's now best recognized as a generally joyful romance that has impacted stylistic trends for years, and few people realize it was once a book.

Universal Pictures

Almost since the beginning of filmmaking, books have been used as source material for films. But it is not easy—filmmakers are faced with the task of distilling what made the story great while modifying components to fit on screen.

The best of them are able to capture the essence of the book. And the movies we've mentioned in the article are truly some of the best.

Want to learn more about movies adapted from other stories? Check out: 16 Movies That Are Inspired By Real Crimes And Paranormal Events